The problem is that the city hasn’t seemed to make good on all the promises they have already made. Where are the parks and athletic complexes that the citizens of south west Boise were promised when they were annexed a couple of years ago? Why are the police still without a contract? Why does our traffic suck? Why is the air we have unfit to breath 1 out of every 8 days? Sure, another park along the river would be nice, but let’s make good on the “promises” all ready made!

Whitewater Park is a misnomer. There is a lot more to the River Recreation Park/Esther Simplot Park than kayak waves. Yes, there will be kayaker features but these new features will also make it safer for tubers, rafters, fisherman, photographers, you name it. Please go to the cityofboise.org website and read all about the RR/ES parks. Links at bottom if the editor will kindly allow them.

The canal operators will benefit as well, by means of easier operations (no more dangerous walks into the river to place diversion planks) and less debis going into their strainers.

Fish and eagles will benefit. Part of the plan is to connect 3 of the 4 ponds and the river with a side channel. This will greatly improve spawning habitat for fish, which in turn will feed more eagles. The near canal-ization of the Boise River is the exact opposite of what fish need.

Also part of the plan is to “green-up” the dirt areas that used to be the concrete plant which will be known as Esther Simplot Park. This 2-parks-in-one combo will be second to none in the world and we should all be proud and eager to have such.

I will disclose my bias of living in that neighborhood, but least I don’t go around saying, “we don’t need any parks in SW Boise, I want to vote on my money being wasted in SW Boise.”

Here’s an idea I’ve had for a long time. Parking meters in the parks. $1.00, no time limit. I would gladly pay, I would even stick a buck in when I ride to the park on my bicycle. The money could be used for maintenance and free up money for construction of new park amenities in other areas.

Here is the link to the most detailed document about the whitewater features prepared by the engineering firm out of Boulder. I have read all 49 pages of this.
http://www.cityofboise.org/parks/caring/whitewater_design_903.pdf

And here is the Esther Simplot park synopsis.
http://www.cityofboise.org/parks/parks_facilities/parks/index.aspx?id=es_park_facts

Here is a huge jpeg of the ES Park. It takes a while to load even on my high speed connection.
http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/Parks/Images/page12536.jpg

Tax money should be used to serve all the people, not just a few. Use the money for police and roads.